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UTEP coach Sean Kugler called this spring the most satisfying of his five with the Miners, and for the most part it was the least chaotic.

In the second year of new offensive and defensive systems, with a stable quarterback situation and fewer true position battles, the focus was on getting better and that was accomplished.

Of the five questions UTEP faced heading into the spring, the big one, running back, still looms and took a step back with a key injury. On all the other fronts, the Miners took steps forward. Here is a look at the five questions and how they were answered.

1.) What are the comings and goings?

Fortunately for UTEP, one of the top newcomers came at their position of biggest need: tight end David Lucero. Another newcomer tight end, Josh Weeks, caught a touchdown pass in the spring game.

Safety Kahani Smith was the other top newcomer. UTEP has several more on the way, including linebacker Julian Jackson, a graduate transfer from Wake Forest who will arrive in June. Kugler also indicated another offensive tackle is on the way and the search is still on for a kicker.

Two players held out of spring for academic issues, receiver Eddie Sinegal and linebacker Jason Van Hook, are on pace to return in the fall but didn't make it out in the spring.

The big loss, the only big injury of spring, was tailback Quadraiz Wadley to a shoulder injury, which leads to the next question.

2.) Who will emerge at tailback?

Josh Fields, who spent the last month and a half finishing high school at Americas, had his stock go up with Wadley's injury.

"We can replace his yards," was Kugler's assessment of the loss of Wadley, and the fact that Treyvon Hughes seems set to stay at linebacker after moving from tailback indicates Kugler believes that.

Ronald Awatt, Kevin Dove and Walter Dawn, who moved to tailback from receiver, give UTEP depth there, but they are going to need Fields to be as good as advertised. He's the bet for opening day starter.

3.) What will the linebacker position look like?

Probably a lot different than it did in spring, as Van Hook and the injured Alvin Jones figure to be back. Jones and Dante Lovilotte will anchor the middle; the best bet at this point is Van Hook and Lawrence Montegut on the outside.

Another newcomer, transfer Kalaii Griffin, and a newcomer to playing, sophomore Dylan Parsee, got themselves in the mix at outside linebacker with good springs.

4.) Will UTEP be better on the defensive line?

This was the most encouraging development of spring. UTEP is bigger on the defensive line, and while the bar of improvement there is a low one, UTEP should legitimately be much better. Chris Richardson, Denzel Chukwukelu and Christian Buckingham are all fairly new names and look like the best starting lineup as a group that UTEP's had in Kugler's tenure.

5.) How much better will they be in the second spring of their systems?

UTEP was supposed to improve in this regard and they did. The defense in particular looked more comfortable and played faster than it did in the fall and that will be the key to the Miners making any kind of run. On offense, quarterback Ryan Metz took the step forward the team needs.

Looking toward fall, running back and linebacker will continue to be questions. Another big one in the fall will be kicker, as finding one will occupy the next few months.